Letters to the Editor

• Don't make voting system scapegoat for violence
• Loot before you leave
• Our paradox 
• How accurate is it? 
• Follow the Polls Commissioner
• Sinhala in Jaffna
• Give senior citizens their rights

Don't make voting system scapegoat for violence

The preferential voting system has been used as a scapegoat by many politicians to justify their attempts at instilling terror into their opponents to force them into inaction or bend them towards their own ends.

It is surprising, if not shocking to see how some politicians at various public meetings and panel discussions attempt to blame all the violence today on the preferential vote system. They don't denounce the perpetrators of violence as those who resent other people's point of view and the exercise of their basic democratic rights.

Such happenings rather than being a defect of the system expose the base instincts of politicians who indulge in such acts and their lack of respect for basic human values. 

Is it the preferential system that makes people pull down posters and decorations put up by others and replace them with that of their party candidates? 

Is it due to a defect in the system, that politicians disrupt or obstruct meetings held by opposing parties, preventing people from attending such meetings?

We know that putting up posters and cutouts is prohibited under the election law. But it has come to stay in our political landscape with law enforcement officers rendered helpless. 

Considering this cannot the politicians be considerate in their actions?

Is it not proper for politicians to paste posters in a manner so as not to completely obliterate the posters of the opposing candidates as well as candidates of their own parties. 

Of course some candidates who feel they are not popular with people try to show off by occupying the entire space on walls without allowing room for others and get offended when other candidates try to occupy at least a section of that space. 

If the preferential system is to be blamed for political violence how come instances of violence and other election malpractice occurred at the last presidential elections? 

We have had evidence that even under the previous first-past-the-post system there had been instances of political violence against rivals. 

The reality is that with the passage of time with politicians hiring underworld elements, violence has taken root in our political culture. 

It is not a creation of the preferential vote system, as those tolerating such acts seem to make out. On the other hand what guarantee is there that such violence would not occur under any other electoral system to be worked out?

The fact is that however much posters are put up, if the candidate is popular the people will vote for him or her if the poll is free and fair. The essential factor is that the poll should be free and fair. Those who indulge in violence are those who are not certain of their popularity. 

I feel the cause of political violence is due to a decline in in basic human values of politicians. In this respect a greater responsibility falls on ruling party politicians in conducting a free and fair election by educating their supporters to desist from violence and other malpractices. 

Judging by the events that had taken place in the recent past, much of the violence had been caused due to patronage given to the perpetrators by ruling party politicians. How can government vehicles be used for election purposes in such large numbers and vehicles without number plates carrying armed people roam about undetected at security points if they do not enjoy patronage of ruling party politicians? 

If there is the political will, there surely is a way to stop all this political violence. 

S.J.Anthony Fernando
Colombo 6

Loot before you leave

In addition to these, bullet-proof cars and motor bikes have been imported. The most serious question to be asked here is who is going to pay for these, unwarranted appointments and purchases? This is a possible threat to the already escalated cost of living. 

Law abiding citizens feel that these are unwanted at a time when Parliamentary Elections are round the corner. 

Why were these benefits not put forward earlier? Why have they become effective after the dissolution only?

S.K.Sisira Banda 
Kandy

Our paradox 

Wider freeways but narrower viewpoints 
We buy more but enjoy less 
We have bigger houses and smaller families 
More conveniences, but no time 
We have more advanced degrees - but less common sense 
More knowledge but less good judgment 
More medicine - but less well being 
We have multiplied our possessions - but reduced our values 
We have higher incomes - but lower morals 
We have been all the way to the moon and back 
But have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. 
We have cleaned up the air but polluted the soul 
Split the atom - not our prejudices 
We talk too much, love too seldom and hate too often 
More leisure - but less fun, 
Two incomes and more divorce 
A time when technology can bring a letter to you in seconds 
And you can choose to either make a difference 
Or just hit " delete". 

Ann Landers 
Toronto

How accurate is it? 

The book concerns two characters who, in their efforts to identify a skeleton as having belonged to someone who was tortured and killed for political reasons, remove it from the site where it was first discovered, to various parts of the island, cradle it in their arms in emotional moments, and even paint it with plastic - an excellent way, says Professor Melbye, to lose physical evidence. As Philip Marchand, book critic of the Toronto Star, points out: "If the purpose is to prove something from the evidence of the skeleton and then make a public accusation based on that evidence, all this playing around with the skeleton defeats the purpose." 

Such objective criticism is in striking contrast to the adulation of Sri Lanka's own critics. 

Ondaatje, says Philip Marchand (book critic of the Toronto Star) is famous for 'sacrificing verisimilitude to the temptations of a striking poetic image or scene". And why not? 

Ondaatje, who was uprooted from Sri Lanka at the age of 10, and sent as an adolescent from Britain to Canada before making his mark in Canada's literary world, knows nothing about Sri Lanka beyond what he picks up from his fleeting visits to the island. He describes himself, quite rightly, as 'Canadian'. 

Why should we expect that a Canadian who has built his reputation (and his finances!) by catering to the insatiable appetite that Western readers have for disparaging accounts of Asian societies, would give a damn about whether the picture he presents of Sri Lanka is accurate or not? 

He does not write for us, but for an international, primarily Western readership that regards his picture of his 'homeland' as authoritative and reliable. 

Isn't it sad that we Sri Lankans are so hard up for heroes that we kid ourselves into taking his account of our country as the work of a distinguished 'Sri Lankan' author? 

Shirley de Mel 
Moratuwa

Follow the Polls Commissioner

The people of this country greatly appreciate the Commissioner's statement and strongly wish that the hope of the whole nation at this moment will be fulfilled. 

This would be a great attempt to safeguard democracy and the freedom of this country.

If all the relevant officers of the Departments such as Elections and Police carry out their duties correctly following the Commissioner's example, nobody could obstruct a non-violent, free and fair election. 

If that is so that too will be a strong foundation for regaining the era of gentlemen politics in our nation. 

We request all the political parties and groups contesting the election to practise what they preach by being honest and sincere.

K. Karunadasa
Colombo 10

Sinhala in Jaffna

I was employed in the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment in the Internal Audit Department. I was sent to Jaffna to verify the stock in a C.W.E. Depot.

A circular came from the Head Office for price revision of some items. This circular was in Sinhala. The store-keeper as well as the staff were Tamils. And they had no knowledge of Sinhala, so the store-keeper came to me and asked me to give an English translation. I translated the circular into English. Is this not discrimination?

H.L. Silva
Katunayake

Give senior citizens their rights

This is what they call independence. Independence for the politicians and NOT the people. They have transformed politics into a profession - a profession of deception, deceit and destruction.

With elections round the corner they are hurling pie-crust promises at the people. 

The Sihala Urumaya, I must say, has at least given a passing thought to the senior citizens but only regarding free transport. 

To avail oneself of this facility one has to be fit to travel.

They also talk of free medicine but this has always been available if one is fit enough to get to the clinic. But none of the parties has given even a thought to the seniors of the country who have in no small measure helped them to the high positions they are in, enjoying more rights than they should.

The elders in this country will soon outnumber the youth at the rate they are dying in the North. The politicians must remember that these people too need food, clothing and shelter. 

They have been so self-centred that they have not learned how other countries treat their elders.

I would call upon all senior citizens to demand the rights the politicians crow about giving the people.

Anula Dias
Colombo 8

More Letters to the Editor

Return to Plus Contents